Of all the comparisons in this series, this is the one with the clearest nutritional gap — not because makhana is exceptional, but because traditional Kerala-style banana chips are deep-fried, and makhana is dry-roasted. That single processing difference accounts for almost everything below.
Fat: the defining difference
Kerala-style banana chips, fried in coconut oil, carry roughly 33-34g fat per 100g by both USDA reference data and Indian branded labels — and a large portion of that is saturated fat, since coconut oil itself is predominantly saturated. Roasted makhana carries about 0.6g fat per 100g, since it's popped and roasted with heat alone, never fried. That's over a 50-fold difference, and it's the single biggest reason the two snacks land in very different places nutritionally, despite both being popular Indian snack-shelf staples. We see the same fried-vs-roasted gap play out in makhana vs potato chips.
Calories
Banana chips run about 519-550 kcal per 100g against makhana's roughly 347 kcal per 100g — banana chips pack about 50% more energy into the same weight, driven almost entirely by the frying oil they absorb.
Protein
Banana chips carry very little protein — about 2.3g per 100g, since bananas themselves aren't a protein-rich food and frying doesn't add any. Roasted makhana's 9.7g per 100g looks especially strong by comparison here (full figures in our nutrition facts breakdown); makhana has over four times the protein of banana chips.
Cost per gram of protein
Because banana chips contribute so little protein, the cost-per-gram-of-protein math is lopsided even though banana chips are reasonably priced per kg (roughly ₹160-300 loose, ₹300-450 branded) — you'd need to eat an impractical quantity of banana chips to get meaningful protein from them. This isn't really a fair fight on protein economics; banana chips simply weren't built for that role, they're a flavour-and-crunch snack.
What this comparison is really about
It's less "makhana vs banana chips" and more "dry-roasted vs deep-fried" as a snacking category. If you specifically enjoy the taste and texture of fried banana chips, no amount of nutrition data will make makhana taste the same — they're different flavours entirely. But if your actual goal is finding a crunchy, satisfying snack that doesn't carry a large fried-fat load, makhana genuinely fills that gap better than banana chips do.
Frequently asked questions
Are banana chips unhealthy? In moderation, an occasional serving isn't something to panic about — but nutritionally, traditional Kerala-style banana chips are deep-fried in coconut oil and carry roughly 30g fat per 100g, a large share of it saturated, with very little protein (about 2.3g per 100g). Eaten often or in large quantities, that fat and calorie load adds up quickly compared to a dry-roasted snack.
How much fat do banana chips have compared to makhana? Kerala-style banana chips carry roughly 33-34g fat per 100g, against roasted makhana's 0.6g per 100g — banana chips have over 50 times more fat, almost entirely from the coconut oil they're fried in.
Which has more protein, makhana or banana chips? Makhana, by a wide margin. Roasted makhana carries about 9.7g protein per 100g against banana chips' roughly 2.3g per 100g — makhana has over four times more protein, and banana chips contribute almost nothing toward protein intake.
Is makhana a good substitute for banana chips? For someone specifically looking to cut down on fried, high-fat snacking, yes — makhana offers a similarly satisfying crunchy snack format without the deep-frying, at a fraction of the fat content. It doesn't taste like banana chips, so it's a substitute in snacking role, not in flavour.
Are all banana chips deep-fried? Most traditional Kerala-style banana chips are deep-fried, typically in coconut oil, which is central to their characteristic flavour and crunch. Some brands now sell baked or air-fried banana chip alternatives with significantly less fat — if you see one labelled that way, its nutrition profile will differ substantially from the traditional fried version discussed here.
About Makhana Box
Dry-roasted, never fried — our flavours are seasoned while warm, no oil-frying involved. Reach us directly:
- Phone: +91 91559 97784
- Email: sales@makhanabox.com
Banana chips figures are from USDA FoodData Central and common Indian branded labels for the traditional fried variety; baked/air-fried versions differ substantially. This is a general nutrition comparison, not a claim about any specific competing brand.